How Bree Purganan's resilience shaped Jalen Green's journey to the NBA
Bree Purganan is a Filipina-American nurse and the mother of Phoenix Suns shooting guard Jalen Green. Purganan became well known following her son's rise to NBA stardom. Unlike many celebrity parents, she maintains an active calling to nursing and philanthropy. Jalen frequently credits his mother for the resilience and work ethic that shaped his path to professional basketball.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Key takeaways
- Bree Purganan was born in Ilocos Sur, Luzon, Philippines, and later moved to the United States.
- She is married to Marcus Green, a former basketball player.
- They have three children: Raquel, Jalen, and Jurnee Tyra.
- She is a licensed nurse and has worked in various healthcare facilities, including Madera Community Hospital and Corizon Health, with a specialisation in mental health and emergency care.
- Her son Jalen Green plays as a shooting guard for the Phoenix Suns and is the father of daughter Lyght Green, born in May 2024.
Profile summary
Full name | Bree Mennette Purganan |
Common name | Bree Purganan |
Gender | Female |
Year of birth | Undisclosed |
Place of birth | Ilocos Sur, Luzon, Philippines |
Place of residence | California, United States |
Nationality | Filipina-American |
Ethnicity | Asian |
Religion | Christian |
Height | 165 cm (5'5") |
Weight | 60 kg (132 lbs) |
Eye colour | Brown |
Hair colour | Black |
Mother | Julia Durbin |
Stepfather | Bob Durbin |
Siblings | 2 (Josh Bass, Kristie Purganan Cannon) |
Marital status | Married |
Partner | Marcus Green |
Children | 3 (Raquel, Jalen Green, Jurnee Tyra) |
Profession | Nurse |
Bio of Bree Purganan, Jalen Green's mother
Bree Purganan is a Filipina-American nurse. Purganan became famous following her son's rise to stardom. However, unlike many celebrity parents, she has an active calling to nursing and philanthropy.
She actively offered support for her son, passionately defending him on occasion. In response to unpopular opinions about her son's background, she told Bleacher Report:
"They don't know he has fought and practised and worked to be where he's at."
Similarly, the Suns guard credited his mother for his career success in an interview with 24 Oras Weekend:
"I got my work ethic from her, my mindset from her... since a young age, I felt like winning was everything."
Source: Original
Bree Purganan's early life and Filipina heritage
She was born and raised in Ilocos Sur Province, Philippines. Details of her precise age and date of birth are yet to be made public. Bree was born to Julia Durbin in a family of five. Her siblings are Josh Bass and Kristie Purganan Cannon.
Bree's Filipina roots are part of a wider story in the NBA. Her son Jalen is a shooting guard for the Phoenix Suns. He is among the few NBA stars with Filipino backgrounds, including Jared McCain and Dylan Harper.
From student to nurse: Bree Purganan's career journey
Bree attended Merced Community College District, where she also played college basketball. According to her LinkedIn profile, she completed her associate degree in Nursing in 1999. In 2002, she completed her licensed vocational nursing certification (LVN) at Turlock Emanuel.
Celebrated as Jalen Green's motivation, Purganan is a professional nurse and businesswoman based in Fresno, California, USA. She is active in charity work, especially cancer awareness and research.
As of 2025, she is a mental health care nurse. She has also worked as a licensed vocational nurse (LVN) since 2016 in the emergency department of Madera Community Hospital. Between 2004 and 2015, she worked at various health facilities, including Provant, OccuVax, Corizon Health and the CDC.
Bree Purganan's role as a wife and mother
Purganan is currently married to Marcus Green, a former basketball player. There is little information about Bree and her current husband, with whom she has three children. The couple has not disclosed how they met or how long they have been married.
Bree Purganan is a mother of three children. Raquel Purganan is her first child. Her second child is Jalen Green, who was born on 9 February 2002. The last-born daughter is called Jurnee Tyra.
Jalen Green has his own growing family. He and partner Draya Michele welcomed their daughter, Lyght Green, who was born in May 2024 and introduced to the public in June 2025, making Bree Purganan a grandmother.
Source: Getty Images
FAQs
- Who is Jalen Green's mom? Jalen Green's mother is Bree Purganan, a Filipina-American nurse based in Fresno, California.
- How old is Bree Purganan? Bree Purganan's age has not been publicly disclosed. Her date of birth remains private.
- What is Bree Purganan's nationality? She is of Filipino-American nationality.
- What percentage Filipino is Jalen Green? He is of partial Filipino descent through his mother, Bree Purganan.
- Who is Bree Purganan's husband? She is married to Marcus Green, a former basketball player.
- Does Jalen Green have a sister? The NBA player has two sisters: Raquel Purganan and Jurnee Tyra.
- What certifications does Bree Purganan have? She holds an Associate's degree in Nursing from Merced College.
- Is Bree Purganan on Instagram? Bree does not appear to have a public Instagram account. She maintains a Facebook presence where she occasionally shares family moments.
- Does Jalen Green have a daughter? Yes. Jalen and his partner Draya Michele welcomed their daughter, Lyght Green, in May 2024. The family publicly revealed her in June 2025.
Bree Purganan is a Filipino-American nurse known for her commitment to healthcare and family. As the mother of Phoenix Suns guard Jalen Green, she played a central role in his development through her resilience, work ethic, and unwavering support. Her nursing career spans over two decades, including work in mental health and emergency care.
Legit.ng recently published an article on Drake's parents. Drake is a Canadian singer, rapper, and actor. He was born in October 1986 to Dennis Graham and Sandra Gayle Graham.
Dennis and Sandra married in Toronto, Canada, in 1985 and have played a significant role in their son's life and career in the entertainment industry. Explore lesser-known details about the family by following the above article.
Proofreading by Kola Muhammed, copy editor at Legit.ng.
Source: Legit.ng
